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Roselyne Sachiti Features Edtior
Women are interesting beings. When given an opportunity to express themselves, in an enabling environment, they break out of their cocoons, develop wings and fly. When educated, women know what they want and clearly speak their mind on their dreams and aspirations, fears and what drives them.

When it comes to entrepreneurship, women have proved to be masters of the art, from businesses as small as vending to big enterprises.

On Sunday, March 4, 2018, about 300 women with dreams to start their own businesses gathered in Acturus, on the outskirts of Harare.

In a big white tent at a farm along Garnier Road, women of different age groups who suffered years of financial exclusion had hopes of finally securing funding to start projects.

The women had travelled from areas that include Caledonia, Bromely and Ruwa and just by watching how excited they were, they clearly had a lot of expectations.

First, most were for the first time in their lives coming face to face with a financial institution that would give them the “rare” opportunity to speak, apply for loans to start businesses or grow existing ones.

Second, they would get a brief training and mentorship on how to manage businesses, add value to products and advice on how to manage loan repayments.

Third, the women would also finally meet businesswoman, Sharon Mugabe, who through her trust, Izwi, is the guarantor of the loans they would receive. Ms Mugabe also facilitated the meeting with the financial institution, MCP Microfinance.

The 300 are a cocktail of women doing small businesses that include vending, subsistence farming, hairdressing, poultry projects, tuckshops, and many others, but have been failing to get funding because of lack of security, information and cannot also access markets. Geographic and social barriers when they wish to open a bank account also shut most of them out.
Others always dreamt of starting small businesses but had no idea how to do so.

The unpredictable weather did not deter them at all. As the sun and rain battled for dominance in the sky, as it would drizzle, stop, the sun burst out, drizzle and stop again, the women seemed to care less as they listened to Getrude Matika, an executive assistant at MCP Microfinance, who explained how the loan facility works.

Ms Matika said because of Ms Mugabe’s assurance, their financial institution would give the women loans of between $50 and $10 000 to empower them.

She said the women could apply for the loans as individuals or as groups adding that they charge an interest of 10 percent on the money borrowed.

Female pensioners who come through Izwi Trust can also benefit from the loans, according to Ms Matika.
“We have several options of paying back the money. You can pay back daily, monthly or over 24 months depending on how much you would have borrowed,” she told the women.

Her advice to the women was “be responsible and put the money we give you to good use.”
Encouraging other women, Mrs Lenah Chiwenga of Tarisa Park, in Harare, who has been surviving on vending said women should take up the loan opportunity.

She said her husband died some years back and she could not access credit from financial institutions because of lack of collateral. Even when her husband was still alive, she still could not access funding from financial institutions.

Mrs Chiwenga told the other women at the gathering how she sustained her small vending business by saving profits in a small tin each month and reinvesting into her business.
This saving culture developed into a savings club with fellow female vendors.

She was also able to pay for her children’s education.
“I built my house using the money from the savings club. At one time I got $300 and bought asbestos roofing materials for my house. We kept saving and reinvesting our money into our vending businesses. I also bought a nice set of sofas. Those who stay near me know what my house looks like. My house is also tiled, I do not apply floor polish anymore,” she added saying while this may seem small to others it is very important for women like her.

She warned the women against misusing loan money they will get.
“Please do not go into supermarkets and use the loan money to buy trolleys full of groceries. Use the money wisely like I did with what I got from our savings club. You will find it difficult to repay the loan if you do not put the money towards its intended use,” she said.

At the meeting, the women were also encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle, have their blood pressure regularly checked as it may rise sharply for various reasons.

Addressing the women, Ms Mugabe, who hails from Masvingo, chronicled her history and emphasised the importance of educating the girl child.

She said Goromonzi was a rich region and as such the women should not be caught napping at a time investors are flooding Zimbabwe because of friendly business policies introduced by President Mnangagwa and his Government.
She said women should be self organised and not be shaken.

“My wish is to see women empowered economically. Those who want to trade, farm and do poultry projects, but please do not end there. You can do more,” she encouraged the women.

She also emphasised on the importance of beneficiation, something the new political dispensation has been passionate about.
“The Government is talking of development and beneficiation. What they are simply saying is for example if you are growing tomatoes, you can come together as a group of 10 women. You can go to the bank and apply for a loan so that you can buy  tomato crushing and canning machines.

“The banks can even provide funding to enable you to export your canned tomatoes. These are not folk-tales, it can be done if we know what we are doing,” she said much to the applause of the crowd which screamed her totem MaMoyo.
She said Izwi Trust is an extension of the journey she has travelled since childhood.

“I come from a family where the education of the girl child has been supported. I would like to extend that experience through my network and support system so that other women can benefit.

“The backgrounds of the women are diverse, but I am looking at women with potential. Zimbabweans are known for their work ethic world over, why not at home. These are women who spend the day with us and we know who they are. These are entrepreneurial women who want to better their lives and that of their families,” she said.

She added that the women need support networks and access to financial inclusion.
“I come from a financial background. How do we include those who have been previously excluded? Gender plays a large part in terms of accessing funding and just understanding what is required.

“It can be intimidating for less privileged women to approach a financial institution for a loan. We should demystify this so that they are also included. Financial institutions should be remodelling now and looking at SME and start-ups particularly those that are women-driven.

“We know women are responsible and all yearning to provide for their families. If you look at data, women repay their loans, it’s just a matter of them being enabled,” she added. She said while she might not be able to solve all the women’s problems the same time, helping them access loans was the first step.

“I want to do things I am passionate about and where I can make a difference.
“Where I believe I can make a difference is to empower other women.

“I named my trust Izwi, because the voice of the people is the voice of God. I am there to listen to you and my passion is to see women around me also get opportunities. I want your children to believe that it is possible for a woman to be successful,” she added.

Ms Mugabe is the second child in a family of five and driven by a passion to help others.
“I had an opportunity to be extremely educated. Not only educated but had exposure. I was educated and worked in the US, travelled extensively across North America and Europe. I was part of a team that set up an investment bank in Zimbabwe and the region. That has given me the opportunity to network and create a network which I can now share with the community,” she said.

She said all she wants is a new generation of empowered female entrepreneurs in this part of Zimbabwe.
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, #PressforProgressNOW, which falls on March 8, resonates with her dreams. With the World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Gap Report findings confirming that gender parity is over 200 years away — there has never been a more important time to keep motivated and it starts with such efforts like financial inclusion.
And when the same women are empowered, they blossom.

As American activist, author and reformer Dorothea Dix aptly puts it; “Your minds may now be likened to a garden, which will, if neglected, yield only weeds and thistles; but, if cultivated, will produce the most beautiful flowers, and the most delicious fruits.”

By the time the 300 women left Acturus, they were already starting to show signs of cultivation and ready to start the loan applications the following day.
What is left is to see them blossom when their businesses grow.

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